South Vietnam, Portrait of Mary from La Vang (Madonna), July 7th, 1962, Michel Nr. SVN 270-273; Four stamps in nominals of 50c, 1D, 2, and 8D were issued in perforation 13.

Here is the mint set

Mint pairs from the bottom left corner of the sheet featuring the sheet number and first day cancel in the margins.

and here the postally used set

These stamps were not released imperforate, however, a small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market.

Enpreuves de Luxe; “Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Poste, Paris” inscribed at bottom right.

Very rare sunken die proof of the 0.50D value in black. These were produced by the printer in very small quantities for the postal authorities approval process.

Color Trials; prior to authorizing the final printing run for stamps the Vietnamese Postal Authority requested a few sheets of color sheets on one particular value of a set in order to decide which final color combination would be best suited for each stamp within the set. The color sheets had the size of a standard sheet but contained alternating color options on the designated nominal value. While these sheets were only intended for internal postal use some of them came to market. Virtually all of these complete sheets were cut apart. So one mostly finds single color proofs or small strips of them. While they are actually very rare one can still obtain them for under $10 a piece (with some exceptions) as not many collectors appear to have an interest in them so far. Here are various color trials for the 0.50D value. Note that the blue tone is different from the finally issued stamp. Here are various color trials for the 0.50D value.

Very rare multiple franking of the 50c Madonna stamp paying an overall postage fo 1.50D on a printed matter mailing sent from Tourane to the United States.

Mixed franking of the 50c Madonna stamp together with the 1D Fight Against Malaria paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a domestic letter front  sent by a civilian to a member of the military (KBC 3042 which was a military training academy) in August of 1962. Letters to members of the military only cost 50% of the standard postal tariff.

Mixed franking of the 50c and 1D Madonna stamps paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 4728, which was part of the Air Force) to a civilian in Thua Thien. Members of the military only had to pay 50% of the standard postal tariff.

Rare single franking of the 1D value on a very small domestic letter sent to Saigon.

Mixed franking of the 2D Madonna stamps (2) together with the 5D Buildings set paying an overall postage of 7D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to France in October of 1962.

Mixed franking of the 0.70D, 1D and 3D Human Rights stamps together with stamps from the Madonna, Revolt against Ngo Dinh Diem, Danhim Power Station, Buildings and Landscapes and Beach of Ha Tien sets paying an overall postage of 14.10D on an international air mail letter sent fromSaigon to the United States in April of 1965.

Mixed franking of the 2D Madonna stamps (2) together with stamps from the Defense Against Malaria and Sport and Youth sets paying an overall postage of 13D on an international letter sent from Da Nang to the United Staes in October of 1962.

Mixed franking of the 70c, 80c and 3D Flower stamps together with stamps from the Reunification, Human Rights, Madonna, Country Youth Organization, Sports and University Education sets paying an overall postage of 13D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to Switzerland in August of 1966.

Mixed franking of the 3D Buildings and Landscapes stamp together with the 2D Madonna (2) and 1D International Cooperation stamps paying an overall postage of 8D on an international air mail letter sent from Qui-Nhon (small post office) to France in December of 1965.

Mixed franking of the 2D Madonna stamps (2) tighter with stamps of the Air Mail, Moral Arming of Youth and WHO sets paying an overall postage of 25D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in October of 1966.

Singe franking of the 8D value on an international air mail letter sent from Cholon to Switzerland.

Single franking of the 8D value on a printed matter New Year’s mailing sent from Saigon to Switzerland in January of 1966.

Mixed franking of the 8D Madonna stamp together with the 4D World Food organization stamp paying an overall postage of 12D on an international air mail letter sent in July of 1963 from Saigon to France.Mixed franking of the 10D Development of Agriculture stamps plus stamps from the Air Mail and Madonna sets paying an overall postage of 33D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to The United States in February of 1967.

Mixed franking of the entire Madonna set together with stamps from the Railroad Line, Defense Against Malaria, Children’s Day and Land Reform sets paying an overall postage of  18.80D on a registered air mail letter sent from Tam-Ky to West Germany in July of 1962. Illegible transit cancels on the reverse.

Registration Nr. 200350

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